Quick Shots: Errors won’t be problem for Sox

Saturday

Jul 17, 2010 at 12:01 AMJul 17, 2010 at 5:20 PM

Weekly Sunday sports roundup.

Matt Trowbridge

The White Sox at their worst reminded us of how they’ve become one of the best. The Sox lost 7-4 to Minnesota on Friday by letting in five unearned runs on four errors. That’s an anomaly. Truth is, improved fielding has been a somewhat overlooked reason for Chicago’s 26-5 run. The Sox were fourth to last in errors last year but are tied for eighth in fielding this year, even after Friday’s four-error debacle.

The Sox had allowed 18 unearned runs all season; 22 percent of their unearned runs have come in one game. It won’t be a problem again.

Cubs worst where Sox best

White the White Sox have drastically improved their fielding, the Cubs have allowed 58 unearned runs, far and away the most in the majors. And that might continue. Their star rookie, Starlin Castro, has the second-worst fielding percentage in baseball. And he was promoted to help the Cubs’ defense.

Danica takes complicated route

Danica Patrick says she is going to "just try to keep it really simple." Well, how about "Just Win, Baby." It doesn’t get simpler than that. Of course, that’s not necessarily easy, as the Raiders’ Al Davis now knows more than anyone. But concentrating on one race circuit might help. Juggling both IndyCar and NASCAR is far from simple.

Bulls needed J.J to beat Heat

J.J. Redick probably isn’t worth $19 million over three years, but Orlando matching Chicago’s offer was a big blow to the Bulls. Redick got his money for one hot playoff season. He was considered a semi-bust, averaging 7.0 points in four years, before this spring. But a 3-point sling is the easiest way to slay a basketball Goliath. Redick paired with Kyle Korver would have given the Bulls a shooter’s chance against the LeBron James/Dwyane Wade/Chris Bosh Miami Heat.

Pro-Am still a hit, but LPGA tourney would be better

Against all odds in a format that long ago when extinct everywhere else, the Rockford Pro-Am has had two of its best tournaments in the last three years. Neither one, though, was for reasons you can bank on in the future. Extreme loyalty to his home state, country, Ryder Cup and, yes, even the Pro-Am, brought Kenny Perry here as the hottest golfer on the planet in 2008. Rising star amateur Brad Benjamin brought the Pro-Am to life this year, not just by playing, but by playing exceptionally well, shooting 66 to finish third.

New touches, like Alpine Bank sponsoring a high school foursome, have also been well-received. Organizers see no reason to change.

And maybe there isn’t. The Pro-Am, at least for now, is as healthy as ever after 34 years. But I’d still prefer a real tournament. As the paper wrote earlier this month, there’s never been an easier time to land an LPGA Tour event. The problem is you need a national sponsor.

When the Cosmopolitan Club held an LPGA event at Macktown in the 1950s and 1960s, the fans, even at $1 a head, could pay for much of the purse: $7,500 for the field and $1,300 to the winner. Now, you need a heavyweight to pay the freight. But if one could be found, Rockford could one day lose the Pro-Am and actually come out ahead in the deal.

Matt Trowbridge’s Quick Shots on Sports appear Sundays. He can be reached at 815-987-1383 or mtrowbridge@rrstar.com.